In the early 1960s, Nigeria's first autonomous political science departments emerged at universities like Ibadan, Ife and Lagos. Early scholarship, heavily influenced by American modernization theory, focused on constitutional forms, legal processe, and political institutions. Foundational texts by scholars such as Kalu Ezera and Eme Awa provided historical and legal chronicles of Nigeria's political evolution, though they often lacked explicit theoretical frameworks. This academic tradition, reliant on expatriate staff and shaped by Anglo-Saxon and U.S. models, grew rapidly, fostering a dependence that raised concerns about intellectual integrity.
Against the backdrop of military rule and the struggle for democracy between 1970 and 1975, Nigerian political scientists recognized the need to assert their professional identity. They sought to challenge the notion that Nigeria's crises were merely economic, advocating instead for democratic solutions. This culminated in the 1973 founding of the Nigerian Political Science Association (NPSA) at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, with Professor Billy Dudley as its first President.
Today, the NPSA is dedicated to advancing research, fostering collaboration with international bodies, and applying scientific knowledge to resolve Nigeria's political challenges. Its vision remains to educate and mobilize citizens, striving for a democratic, just, and prosperous Nigeria and world.
